A Commitment to Serve

Over the course of its history, the mission of the East Lake Foundation has evolved with the community. Throughout, the foundation has relied on a purposeful team of professionals to achieve our goals.

Daniel Shoy, Jr

President

Daniel Shoy, Jr. serves as president of the East Lake Foundation. He is responsible for its strategic plan and goal setting focused on its mission of breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty for children and families in the East Lake community. With overall responsibility for the Foundation’s operations and external relations, he is also charged with sustaining strong relationships with the Foundation’s partners. Since joining the Foundation as Program Director in 2010, he has also served as Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer.

Daniel has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector with organizations focused on youth and community development. Prior to joining the East Lake Foundation, Daniel worked for The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for 10 years and was responsible for awarding $28M in grants.

Daniel has completed several leadership programs including the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Volunteer Involvement Program (2002), Southeast Council of Foundations Hull Fellows Program (2003), LEAD Atlanta (2005), Association of Black Foundation Executives Connecting Leaders Program (2008), and the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education’s Education Policy Fellowship Program (2009).

Daniel currently serves on the boards of the East Lake Housing Corporation, Charles R. Drew Charter School, the University of Georgia Board of Visitors, Hands on Atlanta and on the Atlanta Public Schools’ Affordable Housing Taskforce. He previously served on Emory University’s Board of Governors. He is a member of Leadership Atlanta (Class of 2017). Daniel has been recognized by Atlanta Tribune as a Man of Distinction (2016) and as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Notable Georgians (2017). He’s been a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. since 1994 and is currently active with its Nu Mu Lambda Chapter.

Daniel is a first generation American from New York City, speaks two other languages and enjoys international travel, sports and photography. He earned a B.A. in History from Emory University in 1995 and in 2013 was named an Emory College Distinguished Alumni.

Rhonda Fischer

Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Foundation’s second highest executive role, Rhonda is responsible for the Foundation’s operations, administration, finances, programs and programmatic partnerships. She ensures all programs deliver desired and consistently-improving results, on time and within budget.

Rhonda has deep experience in the non-profit sector, having dedicated over half of her career to mission based organizations. For three years, she was the Director of Development for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools in Washington, DC, an organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. Rhonda also worked with the Henry W. Grady Health System Foundation in Atlanta and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) in Washington, DC. She began her career as a consultant and business development professional with CGI-AMS, a technology consulting firm based in Northern Virginia.

A graduate of the University of Virginia, Rhonda earned her Master of Business Administration in 2013 from Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business, and was inducted into the business honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma.

Rhonda serves St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in several capacities, including Sunday school teacher and in the outreach ministry. She has served on the National Board of Directors for the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) and locally on the Advisory Boards for the Georgia Charter Schools Association, the Emmaus House, and Oglethorpe University’s Center for Civic Engagement. She currently serves on the Board of the East Lake Housing Corporation and the St. Paul’s Outreach Center. Rhonda is an active member of the Atlanta Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc., currently serving as Fundraising Chair for the chapter. Rhonda, and her husband, are proud parents of two boys, both students in the East Lake Foundation’s cradle-to-college education pipeline.

Aaron James

Vice President of Development

Aaron James serves as the Vice President of Development for the East Lake Foundation. Previously, Aaron served as the Vice President of Development and Education for the Georgia Aquarium. At the Aquarium, Aaron was responsible for securing and stewarding six presenting partners (The Home Depot, Southern Company, AT&T, SunTrust, Georgia-Pacific and Southwest Airlines). Additionally, individual, corporate and foundation philanthropy grew 6% during his tenure, and he secured nearly $650,000 to bring over 50,000 Title I students to Georgia Aquarium, 90% of whom had never seen the ocean firsthand. The annual fundraising budget was $9 million dollars.

Prior to the Georgia Aquarium, Aaron served 14 years in independent/private PK-12th grade schools in a variety of capacities including Director of Admissions, Lower School Principal and Director of Advancement.

Aaron grew up in Wichita, Kansas and attended San Diego State University where he was a 4-year varsity letter winner for its nationally ranked Division I soccer team. While at SDSU, Aaron earned a BA in Psychology and an MA in Sport & Exercise Psychology.

Aaron is the father of four children between the ages of 11 and 5. In his spare time, Aaron participates in golf and tennis.

Catherine Woodling

Director of Communications and Marketing

Catherine Woodling, Director of Communications and Marketing. Catherine oversees strategic communications and media relations for the East Lake Initiative, working primarily with the East Lake Foundation, Drew Charter School and the East Lake Golf Club. Most recently, Catherine served as Corporate Communications Manager for The Home Depot where she was responsible for crisis/issues and human resources communications. Previously, she served as the Public Relations and Communications Manager for The Home Depot Foundation. Prior to joining The Home Depot, Catherine served as the Media Relations Officer for Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.

As a native Atlantan, Catherine enjoys being involved in the community. She serves as a board member of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League, where she serves as President. She is the Vice Chair of the City of Atlanta NPU-N and is a member of the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2010. She has been recognized as one of Atlanta’s Power 30 Under 30(2007) and Georgia Trend Magazine’s 40 Under 40 (2016).

She graduated from the University of Arizona Honors College with a degree in Political Science. She is also a graduate of the Arizona Blue Chip Leadership Program, a formal four-year leadership program that emphasizes community involvement.

Sharon Hall-Thomas

Operations and Special Initiatives Manager

Sharon Hall-Thomas is Operations and Special Initiatives Manager for the Foundation. Before joining the Foundation in 2000 as Executive Assistant, she served as an administrative assistant for the law firm of Rubin, Winter, Rapoport and Hall. She also worked as an administrative assistant for the Child Support Enforcement Agency, acting as liaison between the agency and the court system. She attended Georgia State University and volunteers regularly at Charles R. Drew Charter School in East Lake.

Alecia Grimes

Senior Accounting Manager

Alecia Grimes serves as East Lake Foundation’s Senior Accounting Manager. In her role, Alecia is responsible for ensuring that all financial information for East Lake Foundation is accurate and timely. While Alecia is responsible for reporting financial information to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, she is also the financial liaison between the Foundation and our business partners. Prior to joining the East Lake Foundation, Alecia worked for several years at the Cousins’ Family Office. Alecia also has extensive experience in state government, credit services, residential real estate, and network entertainment.

Alecia is a native Georgian. She holds an accounting degree from Georgia State University and is professionally affiliated with the AICPA & Georgia Society of CPAs. Alecia is also active in her community. She is currently on the board of her homeowner’s association, serves as a volunteer for the College Bound ministry at Berean Christian Church, and has served on the board of the Brookwood Basketball Association.

Alecia is a wife and mother of 3 wonderful teenagers.

Joi Jackson

Special Programs and Partnership Manager for the Foundation

Joi Jackson is the Special Programs and Partnership Coordinator for the Foundation. In this role, she ensures effective excecution of special projects and assists in the collaboration, coordination and communication of existing Foundation partnerships. She serves as the primary coordinator for Start: ME East Lake, a micro-entrepreneur accelerator program, and several Foundation scholarship programs. In addition, she supports the organizations’ development efforts by managing the employee, matching gift and TOUR Tribute programs; serving as liaison to Drew Charter School on the Drew Memorial project; and assisting with recruitment, screening and placement of volunteers. Joi brings a wealth of professional experience and civic involvement to the Foundation. She began her professional career in sales and has owned and operated several businesses. An Atlanta native, she has also been active and vital in Atlanta’s business, civic, and spiritual community for most of her life. Joi is a graduate of Howard University and is currently a member of Posse Atlanta Leadership Council, ServeHaiti, Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and The Links, Inc.

Jessie Bond

Grants Manager

Jessie Bond is East Lake Foundation’s Grants Manager, responsible for research and development of grant proposals, along with grants reporting for the Foundation. Jessie has served as a consultant to a number of nonprofits and foundations and was formerly Senior Program Officer for the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta as well as a Grants Officer for the Appalachian Community Fund. She began her career as a reporter and editor. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, Jessie also holds a masters from Georgetown University. She serves on the Grants Committee of the Decatur High School PTSA.

Sarah Winslow Lavine

Manager of Fundraising Events and Volunteers

Sarah Winslow Lavine is the Manager of Fundraising Events and Volunteers for the East Lake Foundation. In this role she oversees all fundraising events including the First Tee® of East Lake Golf-a-Thon, Golf with a Purpose, and the spring gala Party on the Green. She also works on logistics and planning for the East Lake Invitational, TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the East Lake Cup. In addition to events, Sarah oversees the East Lake Women’s Alliance, a philanthropic group of Atlanta women who focus their giving on the East Lake Community. She also works with the East Lake Foundation’s incredible volunteers. Prior to the East Lake Foundation, Sarah worked at Georgia Aquarium and Fernbank Museum as a fundraising event planner in their development department.

Sarah graduated from Florida State University with her bachelor’s degree and received her master’s from Arcadia University in Pennsylvania. She lives in East Atlanta with her husband Daniel and their dog Bennie.

Dwayne Watkins

Database Administrator

Dwayne Watkins servers as the Database Administrator for the East Lake Foundation. He is primarily responsible for managing, storing, organizing and monitoring program data across the East Lake Initiative to show collaborative impact. Dwayne continues to research and stay informed on all data trends and initiatives that help strengthen and sustain the work being done across the East Lake initiative. He also continues cultivate ELF data by formalizing data practices, implementing data sharing agreements which hopes that the data model be replicated in other organizations across the country under the Purpose Built Communities umbrella.

Dwayne Watkins, a recipient of the 2016 Top 25 Game Changers in workforce, moved to “big City” of Atlanta from a small town called Lumber Bridge, North Carolina with hopes of changing the lives of at risk youth and underserved populations. He studied Sociology and Africana Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and immediately began what he calls “soul work” as he worked for a local nonprofit immediately after graduating college. Leveraging his education in data and evaluation, work experience in workforce development, coupled with his natural passion around social justice and interest in community redevelopment, The East Lake Foundation has been home and a natural fit for the last three years.

Nyre Williams

Director of The First Tee® of East Lake

Nyre Williams is Director of The First Tee® of East Lake. Previously, he was director of The First Tee of Nashville. During his tenure at The First Tee of Nashville, he completed his First Tee Coach Certification, distinguishing him as one of only 44 First Tee coaches nationwide to reach this level of achievement. He received his undergraduate degree in health and physical education from Tennessee State University where he played on the school’s golf team.

Jeff Dunovant

Assistant Director for The First Tee® of East Lake

Jeff Dunovant is the Head Golf Pro at the Charlie Yates Golf Course and the Assistant Director for The First Tee® of East Lake. He became a Professional Golfers Association (PGA) member in 1993, making him and his father the first and only black father and son PGA members. Jeff became a The First Tee Recognized Coach in November 2010. Jeff has been a First Tee National Trainer since 2012. In 2012 Jeff was named the Georgia PGA Section and Chapter Junior Golf Leader of the year. Jeff graduated from Fayetteville State University, where he was the captain of the golf team and MVP. He served on the Southwest Section PGA Board of Directors and has served on the Georgia Section PGA Board of Directors since 2005.

Brittny Lott

The First Tee® of East Lake Instructor

Brittny Lott is a native of Decatur, Georgia and developed an interest in golf at the tender age of 12. Brittny was introduced to the game by her father, the late James E. Bryant II, and he encouraged her to play. She became such an enthusiast, she started the girls golf team at her high school. She played and led the team as captain until she graduated and recieved a scholarship to Southern University A&M College for golf. While there, Brittny was a part of a team that eventually won two SWAC championships. Brittny graduatedwith a Biology degree and eventually came back to Atlanta, got married and landed an amazing job with The First Tee® of East Lake. She is now a very happy mother and is aspiring to become a PGA and LPGA teaching professional. Brittny’s hopes are that by accomplishing these goals she can inspire young girls/women to excel in the game of golf.

Jennifer W. McCrary

Director of Outreach and Engagement

Jennifer W. McCrary serves as the Director of Outreach and Engagement. Jennifer is an experienced workforce and community engagement professional who is passionate about people who want to improve themselves through personal and professional transformation.Her leadership and commitment has been nurtured through her work experience in higher education and non-profit leadership. She has always been a guiding force in her personal and professional relationships. Her optimistic and encouraging spirit has made her a positive agent of change.
Jennifer has worked and partnered with organizations such as 22nd Century Career Development Associates, The University of Alabama, The University of Georgia, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta Technical College, Griffin Technical College, The Center for Working Families, Inc., The Sullivan Center, JLON Teleservices and Erotser, LLC.

Jennifer’s has over 10 years of workforce development experience, financial coaching training and partner and community engagement through programming. She is also certified in Global Career Development Facilitation and Offender Workforce Development. She is affiliated with the Professional Association of Professional Resume Writers and Career Coaches and the International Association of Coaches.

Jennifer is a native Atlantan, and a proud product of the Atlanta Public School System and University System of Georgia. Her personal motto is to begin with the end in mind and see yourself already there!

Tywonia Orum

Resident and Community Support Program Coordinator

Tywonia Orum joined the East Lake Foundation in 2012 as its Resident and Community Support Program Coordinator.

After 11 years of working with State Farm, Tywonia decided to transition into a career that would allow her to work with families and communities in a different way. Although not a stranger to humanitarian work, she decided to leave the corporate sector and follow her passion. She worked for several years with the Atlanta Housing Authority where she worked with special programs such as the family reunification and the disabled. Her service continued with The Housing Authority of DeKalb supporting families with housing stabilization. She served as executive assistant for the International Institute of Deaf Services, Inc. for more than 15 years and also worked with National Alliance of Black Interpreters, Inc. (NAOBI). She commutes to Birmingham weekly; where she has been a staff/contract interpreter for the deaf since 1997. Most recently, Tywonia was a Pathway Coach with The Center for Working Families where she worked with families to connect them with employment, job readiness supports, career coaching and other social supports.

Tywonia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Counseling from Samford University and brings a variety of career development training and housing experience to the families in The Villages of East Lake.